US006902507B2

(12) United States Patent

(10) Patent N0.2

Ballard

(54)

(76)

(45) Date of Patent:

ROLLER CAM ASSEMBLY

Inventor:

3,998,112 A

* 12/1976

Cincinnati OH (Us) 45243

4,271,726 A

6/1981 Ryffel ...................... .. 475/168

4,526,064 A

7/1985

4,549,450

10/1985

4,584,904 A * 4/1986 Distin, Jr. et a1.

4,604,916 A

15 6X en 6

or a Jus e

11 er

Apr- 11, 2002

_

8/1986

475/168

4/1987 Murray ..................... .. 475/168

5,188,572 A *

2/1993 Yamaguchi et a1. ...... .. 475/168

5,247,847 A

9/1993

Gu ............................ ..

74/465

5,695,425 A * 12/1997 Hashimoto et a1. ....... .. 475/180

_

Pm Pubhcatlon Data

US 2003/0195076 A1 Oct. 16, 2003

5,707,310 A

1/1998

6,023,989 A

2/2000 Imase et al. ................ .. 74/422

Maeguchi et a1.

475/180

,1 Cited by examiner

(51)

Int. Cl. ................................................ .. F16H 1/32

Primary Emmi-MPH, HO

(58)

Field
U-S. Cl.
Of Search
.......................
...............................
..
.. 475/168, 180;

(57) Attorney)

74/413, 415, 422, 457, 465

(56)

.... .. 475/168

Distin, Jr. ................. .. 475/168

4,643,047 A * 2/1987 Distin et a1.

(65)

475/168

................... .. 475/168

Sutb]eft.t artly illsglalmeithf fiermgmgg

Appl. No.1 10/121,099

P119911

Carden et a1. .
Pierrat

Pa en

4,658,675 A

(22)

Pierrat ...................... .. 475/168

5/1977 Kennington 9t a1~ ~~~~~~ -- 475/168

U-S-C- 154(k)) by) days(21)

1/1974 Colinet ..................... .. 475/168

4,023,440 A *

( ) Nome

3,783,712 A

Jun. 7, 2005

Richard N. Ballard, 5240 Miami Rd.,

US 6,902,507 B2

References Cited

Or
ABSTRACT
Firm_FrOSt Brown Todd,

.
.
.
.
. .
.
A two-stage eprcychc
roller cam transm1ss10n
c0mpr1s1ng
in

each stage: a roller ring having a plurality of ?xed-position

rollers; and a cam gear having pitch-circle-generated,

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

trochoid-shaped teeth and independent pitch, Wherein the

rollers are spaced to mesh With the cam gear and ef?ciently

1,199,398 A

9/1916 Loftus ....................... .. 74/465

1,444,717

2/1923

RE17,811 E *
1,847,591 A *

Webb

......

. . . .. 475/168

9/1930 Braren
475/168
3/1932 Biittner ..................... .. 475/168

transferener

underheav
gy

10a ds
y

'

16 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets

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FKB.

7H6.

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2/

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NPUT SHAFT

/2

26

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US 6,902,507 B2
1

ROLLER CAM ASSEMBLY

The point to be made here is that any of the roller ring

toothed cam assemblies disclosed herein Will permit the

design of compact, high-strength gear trains With very high

train values and pure rolling contact.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In US. Pat. No. Re. 17,811 issued Sep. 23, 1930, the
inventor identi?ed the point on the cam shape Where the

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Early prime movers or power sources such as the mill

stream Water Wheel; and, later the steam engine, created a

need for transferring poWer from one place to another

through torque transfer. An early example of torque transfer

Was the belt and pulley assembly, frequently utiliZed in
machine shops to drive various machines.
The early prime movers generated loW revolutions per

10

minute (rpm) and mechanically simple torque transfer

mechanisms Were capable of creating very little poWer. In
portable machines, chains and sprockets are often used to

shape changes from concave to convex.

He noted that this point on the curve Would carry the load,

caused by the contact of the roller for a longer period of

time. To overcome this dWell problem, he utiliZed a prolate
trochoid curve Where the generating point is three-fourths
the distance from the center of the generating circle com

15

transfer poWer. The most common example of this form of

pared to the radius of the generating circle. This distance

must also equal the eccentricity of the crank. The dWell point

torque transfer is the ordinary bicycle. The bicycle sprocket

is a point on the cam that has a Zero radius of curvature arid

and chain are a roller cam assembly; and the relative motion

this point cannot support loads Without deteriorating the

betWeen the roller in the chain and the sprocket is that of an

cam. For this reason, cycloidal curves should not be used in

involute. It is the shape of the sprocket that enables the

poWer to be transferred smoothly.
With the need to transfer torque betWeen adjacent parallel
and perpendicular shafts, something else had to be devised.
In fact, the old Water Wheels that Were used to grind grain
employed Wooden pegs as gear teeth to transfer torque; but,

20

roller cams. By locating the generating point so far from the

surface of the generating pitch circle, the effective compo
nent of the forces betWeen the roller and the cam is greatly

reduced. thereby severely limiting the capacity of this prior

art mechanism to handle torque. U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,847
25

as rpm and torque increased, it Was observed that a ?uctua

dated Sep. 28, 1993 is particularly relevant to the instant

disclosure. It describes the use of roller cams for external

tion in speeds occurred, creating destructive forces. This

assemblies Where the roller ring is alWays smaller, in a rack

?uctuation resulted from the variations during rotation of the

effective radii betWeen the meshing of the pegged Wheels.

in a torque assembly Where the roller cam is in a bevel gear

The variation of the effective radii Was a result of the

shape of the pegs. The ?rst solution Was to develop a double

and pinion assembly Where the roller ring is the pinion; and
30

cycloid tooth With a convex shape above the pitch circle and
a concave shape beloW the pitch circle. These gears looked

cal graphical procedure using conjugate curves.

something like a plurality of rollers evenly spaced With their

axes parallel to the input shaft and attached to the surface of

35

a Wheel. If tWo concave arcs Were placed near the point of

design solved the velocity ?uctuations. HoWever, the gears

40

highly susceptible to failure.

In the latter part of the nineteenth century, the involute
gear Was developed. It Was both much stronger and cheaper
to make. In calculations of gear strength, the teeth Were
treated as a series of cantilevered beams, and an engineer
named LeWis devised a table of values called the LeWis

Furthermore, this procedure can develop the same shaped

tooth that is created by the use of epicycloidal mathematics
described herein. In the latter case, one of the pitch circles

attachment and the surface of the Wheel, it Would create a

tooth that resembled the teeth used in these gears. This

Were dif?cult to manufacture and their shape made them

design. The de?nition and description of the roller cams in

this reference utiliZe a mathematical presentation With the
line of centers being held constant and the tWo rotating
members being rotated. This procedure folloWs the histori

45

Form Factor that simpli?ed calculations of torque capacity

of spur gears. This table is used in calculations today.
1. Field of the Invention

is held stationary While the line of centers and the other pitch
circle, With the generating point, is alloWed to rotate. In both
cases, the tooth shapes generated are identical. The practical

problem With these epicycloidal and cycloidal tooth shapes

is that there is one point on the face of each tooth that has
a Zero-radius of curvature. And this point Will not handle any
forces Without in?icting serious deterioration on the cam
surface.
TWo additional references that are someWhat relevant to
the disclosed invention include US. Pat. No. 3,783,712
dated Jan. 8, 1974, Which discloses a roller cam assembly

employing a long arcing slot containing tWo suspended

rollers that are separated by a Wedge to ?ll the slot and

The present invention utiliZes the parameters of existing

transmit torque; and US. Pat. No. 4,604,916 dated Aug. 12,

spur gears such as a choice of pitch and pitch circle in a

1986, Which uses a free ?oating set of rollers on a retaining

meshing roller ring-toothed cam con?guration that

ring as used in roller bearings. This ring of rollers has one

employs roller action as opposed to the high-friction sliding

action of spur gear. In the present invention, it is the
trochoidal shape that eliminates the interference betWeen

55

meshing members. This con?guration permits feWer, larger

and stronger teeth in the smaller meshing member and
alloWs the design of smaller, stronger and more compact
gear trains. FeWer, larger teeth are possible because the
shape of the cam tooth is determined by the relative motion
betWeen rotating bodies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

60

A roller ring-toothed cam combination can be designed

With external meshing members, internal meshing members,

bevel gear arrangements and rack and pinion combinations.
In all of these proposed assemblies, either the larger or the
smaller member can be the roller ring or the toothed cam.

more roller than the inner member has notches and one less
roller than the outer member has notches and all rollers are
in contact With both the inner member and the outer member
at all times.

65

This invention discloses a transmission having a roller

cam assembly that utiliZes a pair of drive shafts, one an input
shaft and the other an output shaft, Wherein one of said shafts
is attached to a toothed cam having a trochoidal pro?le and
the other drive shaft is attached to a roller ring having a

plurality of attached cylindrical roller shafts aligned to mesh

With said toothed cam and thereby permit the transfer of
torque from one shaft to the other.

US 6,902,507 B2
3

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

can also surround the roller ring as in FIGS. 912. When the
cam is internal or external to the roller ring assembly, but not

FIG. 1 is an elevated axial view of a curtate epitrochoidal

cam and roller ring assembly wherein the axis of the cam is
within or inside the pitch circle of the roller ring.
FIG. 2 is the same view as FIG. 1, in partial section,

cam. In this disclosure, the cams and roller rings move the
same as with the gears. The cam shape controls the relative

showing a one-half pitch clockwise displacement from FIG.

gears. Herein are described two types of epitrochoidal cams

surrounding the roller ring assembly, it is an epitrochoid

motion between them so as to generate the same output as

1.

namely, curtate (FIG. 1) and prolate (FIG. 4). Similarly, we

FIG. 3 is an elevated side view of FIG. 1 after rotating the

roller cam assembly 90 in the horiZontal plane.
FIG. 4 is an elevated axial view of a prolate epitrochoidal
cam and roller ring assembly wherein the axis of the cam is

will describe two types of roller ring-surrounding cams

10

trochoidal cam and roller ring arrangement lends itself to use

in epicyclic transmissions as depicted in FIGS. 11 & 12.

outside the pitch circle of the roller ring.

FIG. 4a is an enlarged view of the epitrochoid cam of FIG.
4 showing the strobbed motion of a solitary rollers relative

namely, curtate hypotrochoidal (see FIGS. 10 & 12) and

prolate hypotrochoidal (see FIGS. 9 & 11). Furthermore, the
FIG. 1 shows an axial view of a curtate epitrochoidal cam

15

and roller ring assembly 10 wherein the input shaft 28 and

the output shaft 14 are offset and project into and out of the

motion across the face of the cam.

plane of the page. In this ?gure, A represents the input

FIG. 4b is a further enlargement of a single pitch of the

cam of FIG. 4a, which more clearly depicts how the pro?le
of the cam perfectly matches the relative motion of the
roller.
FIG. 5 is the same view as FIG. 4, in partial section, but
showing a one-half pitch deviation from FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is an elevated side view of FIG. 4 after rotating the
roller cam assembly rotated 90 in the horiZontal plane.

torque on the roller ring 24 as delivered by the roller ring

input shaft 28. This clockwise torque A will drive the
20

25

FIG. 7 is an elevated axial view of a prolate epitrochoidal

cam and roller assembly wherein the axle of the cam is

located inside the pitch circle of the roller ring.

FIG. 8 is an elevated axial view of a curtate epitrochoidal
cam and roller assembly wherein the axis of the cam is

external to the pitch circle of the roller ring.

FIG. 8a is the is the curtate epitrochoid cam of FIG. 8

showing the incremental motion of a solitary rollers relative

motion across the face of the cam.

35

FIG. 8b is an enlarged view of a single pitch of the cam

of FIG. 8 depicting subsections (IV) of the rollers inter

action with the cam.
40

26 interactions with the cam 12 is apparent. The cam

choid cam and roller ring assembly.

45

FIG. 14 is a curtate trochoidal cam roller ring assembly

that changes rotary motion into linear motion

55

60

65

pro?le-de?ning equations, infra.

pro?les that can interact ef?ciently with appropriately

matched roller ring assemblies. These cam pro?les can be
described either mathematically or mechanically. This docu
ment will do both. The cams can be located internal to the

circumference of the roller ring assembly (see FIGS. 1 & 7).

Or they can be located externally to the circumference of the

roller ring assembly (see FIGS. 4 & 8). Additionally, the cam

from driving 22 to holding 17 to a neutral or nodal position

18 back to a driving position 19 and to a ?nal holding
interaction in position 20. Such intricate interactions are not
obvious upon a casual scanning of the ?gures.
FIG. 2 depicts the roller cam assembly rotated one-half X
or one-half pitch from the position shown in FIG. 1. Note the

positions M and N, which represent the initial and ?nal

positions of roller pin 26 interaction with cam 12. When
FIGS. 1 and 2 are conceptually combined, a better appre
ciation of the roller pin 26 and cam 12 interaction is realiZed.
Note the displacement of the roller pin centers inside the
pitch circle of the cam 21. This radial displacement is a
controlling factor in dictating the curtate epitrochoidal cam
pro?le shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This displacement inside 31
is de?ned by the term epsilon in the curtate epitrochoid

An understanding of the disclosed roller cam assembly

can be best appreciated by referring to the drawing. This
disclosure describes four different types of trochoid cam

position 22 depicts the initial contact or driving interaction

between the roller pin 26 and the cam tooth 30. Similarly, the
cam position 20 shows the ?nal contact region between the
cam tooth 30 and the roller pin 26. The interaction between
the roller pin and a curtate epitrochoid cam is fairly complex
and will be explained in detail by referring to FIG. 8b.

Brie?y, the interacting roller pin makes several transitions

FIG. 13 is a two-stage hypotrochoidal reverted epicyclic

roller ring assembly wherein the input and output shafts are
in the plane of the page.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED

EMBODIMENTS

designs.
Upon closer inspection of FIG. 1, the range of roller pin

FIG. 10 is an elevated axial view of a curtate hypotro

FIG. 11 is an elevated axial view of a prolate hypotro

choidal cam and roller ring assembly with an eccentric axle
on the roller ring.
FIG. 12 is an elevated axial view of a curtate hypotro
choidal cam and roller ring assembly with an eccentric shaft
on the roller ring.

output shaft 14. The pitch circle of the cam 12 and roller ring
24 are represented by the circles labeled 21 & 31 respec
tively. The pitch circles contact and turn on each other
without slipping at the 12 oclock position. The pitch of the
cam 12 and the roller ring 24 is represented by the value of
X where the indicated radii cross the pitch circle 21 of the
cam 12. Reference 27 is intended to indicate that the rollers
can consist essentially of a sleeve with a bushing for high
loading or any of a variety of commercially available
cantilevered rollers with internal roller bearings for lower
load applications and reduced frictional losses. These
designs do not exclude the use of rollers with end supports.
In this disclosure, end supports are not included in the

drawing to simplify the ?gures and the visualiZations of the

FIG. 9 is an elevated axial view of a prolate hypotrochoid

cam and roller ring assembly.

curtate epitrochoid cam 12 in a clockwise direction resulting

in a reduced output torque B which is transferred to the
output shaft 14. Because there are more roller elements 26
on the input roller ring than teeth on the cam 12, this
con?guration represents an overdrive transmission in which
a 0.67 turn on the input shaft 28 results in 1.0 turn of the

FIG. 3 offers a longitudinal perspective wherein the roller

cam assembly 10 in FIG. 1 has been rotated 90 in the

US 6,902,507 B2
5

horizontal plane such that the cam shaft 14 and the roller
ring shaft 28 are noW in the plane of the page. The com
pactness of this curtate epitrochoid cam and roller ring
design is clearly seen in this vieW.
FIGS. 4, 5, & 6 represent a series of vieWs parallel to
FIGS. 1, 2, & 3 except that the cam design is a prolate
epitrochoid type and the cam aXis is located outside the
circumference of the roller ring assembly 24. FIG. 4 is an
aXial vieW of a prolate epitrochoid cam and roller ring

be driven. An advantage in this design is the minimiZation

assembly 10 Wherein the input shaft 14 and the output shaft

28 are offset and project into and out of the plane of the page.
In this ?gure A represents the input torque on the cam 12
as delivered by the input cam shaft 14. This clockWise torque
A Will drive the roller ring assembly 24 in a counter
clockWise direction resulting in a increased output torque
B, Which is transferred to the roller ring output shaft 28.

of the intermittent motion Which is more likely With involute

gear designs.
FIG. 6 gives a longitudinal perspective Wherein the roller

10

roller rings are clearly different depending on Whether the

15

cam is located inside or outside of the roller rings circum

ference. Compare FIGS. 4 & 7 and 1 & 8.
FIGS. 8A and 8B shoW close-up and extreme close-up
vieWs of the incremental motion of an individual roller pin
26 across the curtate epitrochoid cam 12 in FIG. 8. This

Because there are more roller elements 26 on the output

roller ring than teeth on the input cam 12, this con?guration
represents a transmission in Which 1.0 turn on the input shaft

14 results in 0.5 turn of the output shaft 28. The pitch circles
of the cam 12 and roller ring 24 are represented by the circles
labeled 21 & 31 respectively. The pitch circles contact and
turn on each other Without slipping at the 6 oclock position
of the cam. Note that the roller pin centers are displaced
inWardly from the roller ring pitch circle 31 or outWard from
the pitch circle of the cam 21. This inWard displacement of

cam assembly 10 in FIG. 4 has been rotated 90 so that the

cam shaft 14 and the roller ring shaft 28 are noW in the plane
of the page.
FIGS. 7 & 8 shoW that the roller ring-epitrochoid cam
relationships described in FIGS. 13 and FIGS. 46 can be
reversed With respect to the location of the cam shaft, viZ.
the same cam can Work With tWo unique roller rings. The

20

25

motion can be duplicated by holding the cam still and

rotating the roller ring around the cam at a distance equal to
the sum of the cam and roller ring pitch circle radii. In these
?gures the cam is rotating With a clockWise driving torque
B. With the curtate epitrochoid cam, the relative motion of
the roller pin across the cam is not intuitively obvious.
Therefore, this motion is shoWn in eXtreme close-up With the
phases of roller cam contact indicated by Roman numerals

IV (FIG. 8B). The initial roller pin 26 and cam contact

takes occurs along a holding face of the cam tooth 22

the roller pin centers from the roller ring pitch circle is

designated phase I. The roller pin then departs from the

similarly the controlling factor for de?ning the prolate

epitrochoid cam pro?le. This displacement is de?ned as

initial contact tooth at a point designated 30 and then

epsilon in the prolate epitrochoid de?ning equations infra.

30 traverses the notch and contacts the neXt cam tooth on a

driving face 17 designated phase II. Driving occurs during

The pitch of the cam 12 and the roller ring 24 is designated

by the value X as measured along the pitch circle.
FIGS. 4a and 4b clearly shoW that the pro?le of the
prolate epitrochoid cam is such that it completely de?nes the
relative motion of the roller pin center across the cam. In this

phase II as the roller traverses doWn the cam tooth until the
roller reaches the bottom of the tooth or the notch 18,
35

traverses up the holding cam face 19 until it reaches position

30. At this point the roller ceases its holding action and again
traverses the notch and contacts another driving face of the

vieW the cam is held in place and the roller ring pitch circle
is rotated around the cam pitch circle. From the beginning to
the end of the pitch cycle, the roller pin 26 is in continuous

adjacent cam tooth. This ?nal driving phase is designated

contact With the cam 12.

In contrast to the curtate epitrochoid cam (FIGS. 13), the

initial roller contact at position (O) FIG. 4 of the driving
prolate epitrochoid cam 12 (also see FIGS. 46) provides a
holding action as opposed to a driving action. Similarly, the
?nal interaction of the driving prolate epitrochoidal cam
With the roller ring 24 is a driving contact (see FIGS. 4, 4a,
& 4b). HalfWay betWeen positions O and P is a neutral or
nodal point in the roller pins interaction With the cam (see

designated phase III. At this point the roller is not driving or

holding. It is in a nodal position. During phase IV the roller

40

phase V. We call this unique motion across the cam a

gamma motion after the Greek character that it simulates.

This compleX motion With tWo phases of driving and tWo
phases of holding Within a single pitch cycle has not been
described before and enables this design to dramatically
45

reduce intermittent action. Normally, more than one roller

contacts the cam in a given instance and thus holding and
driving phases on adjacent cam teeth and rollers are over

lapping. This overlap minimiZes intermittent action in these

cam and roller ring designs. Other designs that have claimed
to eliminate intermittent action have required continuous

FIG. 4). At the neutral position the cam is not driving or

holding back the roller pin. In FIG. 4 the driving face of the
cam tooth 16 and the holding face of the cam tooth are

contact betWeen a rolling elements and the cams to achieve

identi?ed by 22 and 20, respectively.

this end (Distin et al. US. Pat. No. 4,584,904).

The contacting pitch circles of the cam and roller ring are

FIG. 9 illustrates a second form of roller cam assembly

represented by the circles labeled 21 and 31, respectively.

10, namely the prolate hypotrochoid cam design. With

Note that the roller pin centers are displaced inWardly from
the roller ring pitch circle 31 or outWard from the pitch circle
of the cam 21. This inWard displacement of the roller pin
centers from the pitch circle is similarly the controlling
factor for de?ning the prolate epitrochoid cam pro?le. This
displacement is de?ned as epsilon in the prolate epitrochoid

55

hypotrochoid cams the roller ring assembly 24 is contained

60

Within, or surrounded by, the cam 12. In this ?gure the roller
ring shaft 28 is the input shaft imparting a torque A to the
roller ring assembly. This action applies a torque B to the
cam 12, Which is attached to shaft 14, and is 1.5 times
greater than A. In an identical fashion to the prolate

65

hypotrochoid cam provides an initial holding action upon

?rst contact With the roller ring and a driving action folloW
ing the nodal position at siX oclock in FIG. 9. Consequently,
this hypotrochoid design also has all the bene?ts of the

de?ning equations, infra.

epitrochoid cam (see FIG. 4B and its description). This

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate vieW of FIG. 4 Wherein the

cam has been rotated clockWise one-half pitch. In FIG. 5 the

unique feature of prolate epitrochoid cams is clearly

revealed by shoWing that the single engaged cam tooth is
simultaneously driving and holding the roller ring and
minimiZing back-lash by holding back the neXt roller pin to

prolate epitrochoid cam-roller ring design such as reduced

friction, eliminated interference, and minimiZed intermittent

US 6,902,507 B2
7

action. The circles labeled 31 and 21 represent the pitch

circles of the roller ring and cam respectively.
FIG. 10 appears quite similar to FIG. 9 because it also is
a hypotrochoid cam roller ring assembly. However the

Equations
The equations that de?ne the motion of the centers of the
roller pins across the epitrochoid cams are derived from the

equations de?ning epicyclical motion. In a book entitled:

Mechanical design and Systems Handbook edited by Harold

centers of the rollers are displaced in a radial fashion outside

the pitch circle of the roller ring 31 by an amount 6. This

difference manifests itself on the shape of the cam, requiring
it to be a curtate hypotrochoid in order to control the relative

A.Rothbart (McGraW-Hill, NeW York, 1964) the equation

for epicycloid motion is:

motion of the roller ring as it interacts With the cam as

described in FIG. 8B.

FIGS. 11 & 12 simply eXtend these hypotrochoid cam and

10

roller ring assemblies into an epicyclic design Wherein the

roller ring is mounted on an eccentric shaft of displacement
Y (eccentricity) as it rotates around its aXis 33. Also note that
in FIGS. 11 and 12 the cams are ?xed, and the eccentric and

15

the roller ring rotate in opposite directions. As shoWn in

previous epicyclic gear designs these designs can provide

massive gear train values With correspondingly large torque
multiplication. The epicyclic hypotrochoid roller cam

See page 153 for the de?nitions of the variables. To de?ne

the prolate epitrochoid motion a variable 6 is added to the
equations infra. 6 represents an incremental displacement of

the generating point(s) for the cam off the pitch circle of the
roller ring assembly toWards the center of the roller ring.
Thus, the equation for the prolate epitrochoid motion pro
duce by the similarly named cam becomes:

assemblies and epicyclic epitrochoid roller cam assemblies

shoWn in FIGS. 11 and 12 ideally handle these high train
values and high torque values. The stout cam tooth pro?les

provide signi?cant strength advantages over conventional

involute gears. Furthermore, all the designs portrayed in this
document avoid a point of Zero radius of curvature, Which is

inherent in cycloids.

25

FIGS. 11 & 12 are intended to be ?rst stages of a

tWo-staged epicyclic con?guration. In a tWo-staged con?gu

Since the curtate epitrochoid cam is generated When the

centers of the roller ring are displaced outside the pitch circle

ration the second stage is in tandem and mirrors the ?rst

stage FIG. 13. Please note that the ?rst stage cam is part of

of the roller ring, the equation de?ning this motion becomes:

the housing, and also note that the roller rings of both stages
are ?rmly attached to each other and that the second stage
cam is free to rotate. The out put shaft, Which is ?rmly

attached to the second stage cam, provides the output torque.

This arrangement Will also Work for epitrochoidal cams. The
second stage can be slightly larger or smaller With the
planetary roller rings connected. The second stage cam is

35

In a similar manner the equations de?ning hypotrochoid

motion are derived from those equations describing hypo

free to rotate around an output shaft that lines up With the

input shaft. These types of staged epicyclic transmissions

can provide very high train values With reduced rotational

40

mass and compact siZe.

As an intuitive proof of concept a mechanical means of

producing the epitrochoid cams in FIGS. 4 & 8 Will be

presented: We begin With tWo parallel shafts, such as 14 and
28 of FIGS. 4 & 8, spaced as depicted in the ?gures. On shaft

cycloidal motion. Again according to Rothbart p153 those

equations are:

(Kl-b)

45

14, We install a gear blank of suf?cient siZe to accommodate

cam 14. On shaft 28, We install cylindrical cutters of the siZe

and placement as the rollers on roller ring 24. Imagine that

the cutters have cutting teeth on their sides and ends, such

Again, by amending the above equations With the value 6 We

can de?ne the prolate hypotrochoid motion as:

as cutters for end mills. Shafts 14 & 28 are then connected

by tWo spur gears having identical pitch circles 31 and 21.

The cutters, or the cam blank, are/is connected to the shaft

through splines so that they may be moved axially along the

shaft, and they are positioned so that the end mill cutters face
the perpendicular plane of the gear blank. With the cutters
spinning and the shafts rotating, the cutters are brought into
the same perpendicular plane as the gear blank. The result
ing cam shape Will be that of cam 12 in FIGS. 4 & 7. The
same cam shape can also be generated having the cutters
arranged the same as the rollers on roller ring 24 in FIGS.
1 and 8. This method Would also Work for hypotrochoidal

55

Similarly, We can de?ne curtate hypotrochoid motion as

folloWs:

cams such as those in FIGS. 9 & 10.

In practice, holding the shaft of the roller ring 24 con

taining the cutters and rotating the arm betWeen shafts 14
and 28 in an epicyclical manner, gives the same relative
motion as described above and Would generate cams having
the same shape.

65

While the foregoing is a complete and detailed description

of the preferred embodiments of the disclosed roller cam
assembly, it should be apparent that numerous variations and

US 6,902,507 B2
10
7. The transmission according to claim 6, said teeth

modi?cations can be employed to implement the all

having curtate epitrochoidal pro?les.

important purpose of the assembly Without departing from

the spirit of the invention, Which is fairly de?ned by the
appended claims.

8. The transmission according to claim 6, said teeth

having curtate hypotrochoidal pro?les.

What I claim is:

9. The transmission according to claim 6, Wherein each

1. A tWo-stage epicyclic roller cam transmission compris

roller ring has an even number of rollers, and Wherein each

ing in each stage:

cam gear has an even number of teeth.

a roller ring having an even number of ?Xed-position

10. The transmission according to claim 6, Wherein at

rollers; and

least one of said rollers is not in contact With said cam gear

generated, curtate trochoid-shaped teeth, and Wherein

at a given time during operation of the transmission.

11. The transmission according to claim 6, Wherein the

said rollers are spaced to mesh With said cam gear,

output of the ?rst stage is one of said roller rings, said one

a cam gear having an even number of pitch-circle

Wherein at least one of said roller rings is con?gured to

of said roller rings having a ?rst number of rollers, and

rotate.

2. The transmission according to claim 1, said teeth

15

having curtate epitrochoidal pro?les.

3. The transmission according to claim 1, said teeth

12. The transmission according to claim 6, Wherein the

having curtate hypotrochoidal pro?les.

output of the ?rst stage is one of said cam gears, said one of
said cam gears having a ?rst number of teeth, and Wherein

4. The transmission according to claim 1, Wherein the

output of the ?rst stage is one of said roller rings, said one
of said roller rings having a ?rst even number of rollers, and
Wherein the output of the second stage is one of said cam

the output of the second stage is one of said roller rings, said
one of said roller rings having the ?rst number of rollers.
13. The transmission according to claim 11, said teeth

gears, said one of said cam gears having the ?rst even

number of teeth.
5. The transmission according to claim 1,
Wherein the output of the ?rst stage is one of said cam

Wherein the output of the second stage is one of said cam

gears, said one of said cam gears having the ?rst number of
teeth.

having curtate epitrochoidal pro?les.

25

gears, said one of said cam gears having a ?rst even

number of teeth, and Wherein the output of the second

stage is one of said roller rings, said one of said roller

rings having the ?rst even number of rollers.

6. A tWo-stage epicyclic roller cam transmission compris

ing in each stage:

a roller ring having a plurality of ?Xed-position rollers;
and
35
a cam gear having pitch-circle-generated, curtate

14. The transmission according to claim 11, said teeth

having curtate hypotrochoidal pro?les.

15. The transmission according to claim 11, Wherein each
roller ring has an even number of rollers, and Wherein each
cam gear has an even number of teeth.

16. A tWo-stage epicyclic roller cam transmission com

prising in each stage:

a roller ring having a plurality of ?Xed-position rollers;
and
a cam gear having pitch-circle-generated, curtate

trochoidal-shaped teeth;

trochoid-shaped teeth; Wherein the difference betWeen

Wherein at least one of said roller rings is con?gured to

the number of said rollers and the number of said teeth

is at least tWo, Wherein at least one of said roller rings
is con?gured to rotate.

rotate.